Texas slugger's also opening eyes

While Mark McGwire is getting most of the attention, another slugger in another league is also having an amazing season.

Juan Gonzalez had his second straight two-homer game Sunday, hitting his seventh career grand slam and a solo shot to lead Texas over Baltimore 9-5.The five RBIs gave Gonzalez nine in two games and increased his American League-leading total to 71. McGwire leads the National League with 68.

Gonzalez has 17 homers, 10 fewer than McGwire, who is on pace to challenge Roger Maris' 61-homer mark.

"I don't like comparisons," Gonzalez said. "McGwire is playing in the National League. Playing in the American League is different."

Gonzalez's grand slam came in the third inning off Scott Erickson (5-6) and gave the Rangers a 5-1 lead. Unlike his two long shots against the Orioles on Saturday, this one barely cleared the left-field wall and was measured at 354 feet.

"His swing reminds me a lot of Reggie Jackson's ball and Mike Schmidt's ball," Texas manager Johnny Oates said. " They all hit underneath the ball, they all hit them high in the air and they all have extra carry on their ball."

In the ninth, Gonzalez connected on an 0-2 pitch from Armando Be-ni-tez for the 30th multihomer game of his career.

"When you're hitting great, you see the ball good. You like to hit 10 or 15 times in a game because you feel great," Gonzalez said.

RED SOX 13, YANKEES 7: Boston scored 11 runs in the third - the biggest inning against the Yankees in 55 years - but still needed a sensational defensive play by rookie second baseman Lou Merloni to beat New York.

MARINERS 11, DEVIL RAYS 6: After going the equivalent of nearly three games without a home run, Seattle hit six, including Ken Griffey Jr.'s 19th of the season, at Tampa Bay.

WHITE SOX 8, TIGERS 2: Jim Parque pitched 61/3 shutout innings in his second major league start and Chicago hit three home runs at Detroit.